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[CHRON]Ex-Nets star pleads guillty to assault in limo driver's death

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by RocketMadness, Jan 11, 2010.

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  1. RocketMadness

    RocketMadness Member

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    By SAMANTHA HENRY



    SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Former NBA star Jayson Williams, his personal life in shambles, took responsibility for accidentally shooting his limousine driver to death eight years ago by pleading guilty Monday to assault and agreeing to serve at least 18 months in prison.

    Williams was awaiting retrial on a reckless manslaughter count but pleaded guilty to the lesser aggravated assault count for the 2002 death of Costas Christofi.

    Williams remained poised during the hearing and mostly answered yes and no questions, though he did tell the judge that he had not fully checked a shotgun he was showing off to friends before snapping it closed.

    “I didn’t look in the direction the muzzle of the gun was pointed,” he said, before admitting that his handling of the gun was reckless and that the gunshot caused Christofi’s death.

    Williams, who was charged with drunken driving after crashing his SUV into a tree in New York last week, had stitches visible above his right eye.

    “Today is the first step in moving toward closure,” said Williams’ attorney, Joseph Hayden. He and Williams both declined to speak further about the case, citing a gag order.

    The assault charge carries a minimum 18-month sentence because a gun was involved. The reckless manslaughter count would have carried a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

    Under his plea agreement, Williams will serve 18 months in state prison for the aggravated assault charge and up to five years for a prior conviction of trying to cover up the crime. The sentences will be concurrent and he’ll be eligible for parole after 18 months.


    Read more at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6809196.html

    Lock if posted.
     
    #1 RocketMadness, Jan 11, 2010
  2. professorjay

    professorjay Member

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    Sounds like he was haunted by the event.
     
    #2 professorjay, Jan 11, 2010
  3. Pizza_Da_Hut

    Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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    Query: Why do athletes who make gobs of money even have weapons? Get someone else to do your dirty work, thats the way mobsters do it. I swear they do the stupidest things. Look at Willie Tuitama out here (in Tucson), the guy was going to go in the draft but the dumbass got a DUI. He could have easily just paid a guy to drive him wherever. The kicker, he went out for some McDonalds. I understand the Williams incident was most likely an accident, but when you have money and women why risk it for something so stupid?
     
    #3 Pizza_Da_Hut, Jan 11, 2010
  4. itony

    itony Member

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    uhh how do you shoot someone accidently 18 times? :eek: life sentence please
     
    #4 itony, Jan 11, 2010
  5. DallasThomas

    DallasThomas Member

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    What?
     
    #5 DallasThomas, Jan 11, 2010
  6. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    [rquoter]Former NBA star Jayson Williams, his personal life in shambles, took responsibility for accidentally shooting his limousine driver to death eight years ago by pleading guilty Monday to assault and agreeing to serve at least 18 months in prison.[/rquoter]

    He is going to serve one month per shot?
     
    #6 durvasa, Jan 11, 2010
  7. pippendagimp

    pippendagimp Member

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    why did it take 8 years to get a guilty plea :confused:
     
    #7 pippendagimp, Jan 11, 2010
  8. itony

    itony Member

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    oops my fault misread haha :(
     
    #8 itony, Jan 11, 2010
  9. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    the first trial was a hung jury on these charges innoncent of more severe chargers, he was about to go to court again. he paid $2.75MM to the family so i think he still has money for good lawyers, probably just wants to end this
     
    #9 pgabriel, Jan 11, 2010
  10. NotInMyHouse

    NotInMyHouse Member

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    I think it was one shot. I don't think his shotgun had 18 shots capable of being loaded and fired by accident with a single pull of the trigger.

    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/williamscall1.html

    911 call is available at this link.
     
    #10 NotInMyHouse, Jan 11, 2010
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